Method and machine for laminating strips in casings



Nov. 26, 1940. A. J. FREEMAN 2,232,611

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR LAMINATING' STRIPS IN CASINGS Original Filed Sept. 16, 1936 1N VENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 26, 1940 PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MACHINE FOR LAMINATING STRIPS IN CASINGS Alpheus J. Freeman, Chicago, 111., assignor to Freeman, Incorporated. Chicago, 111., a comration of Illinois original application September 18, 1938, Serial Divided and this application Sep tember 26, 1938, Serial No. 231,776

, 13 claims. (01. 216-20) This application is a division of my application for Marking of casings, filed September I6, 1936, Serial No. 101,042.

This invention relates particularly-to machines or apparatus for inserting or applying inserts or strips in tubular casings which are commonly known as artificial casings to distinguish the same from natural casings of animal origin. Such artificial casings which are usually made of transparent cellulose material have heretofore usually been printed on the outside to indicate the source of manufacture of the goods contained therein but such printing is expensive to apply and furthermore causes deterioration of the casings due to the heat necessary for drying. These casings, particularly when used for sausage, tend to stretch to a considerable extent so that printing applied thereto is apt to be afiected, destroyed or mutilated during the stuffing or smoking and other'operations. In accordance with my invention set forth in the co-pending application I provide a'casing with an insert or strip therein which may contain any desired indicia, printing or identifying means and the present invention is directed to apparatus for inserting said strips and to the method of laminating or applying such inserts in the tubular casings. The objects of this invention are to provide a machine or apparatus for inserting and cement- 80 ing or otherwise securing strips or inserts in casings and to the method utilized for applying such identifying means.

Other objects and advantages will appear more fully from the following description and the ac- 86 companying drawing in which 7 Figure 1 is a side view of the machine or apparatus.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinaisectional view hi the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2 and also showing rolls or compressing means for pressing theinserts into contact with thewalls of the casing; and Figure 5 is a sectional view of a completed casing with the insert or strip applied thereto.

In the various views some parts are shown diagrammatically and other parts broken away or 5 shown in section for convenience in illustration. e

As shown in the drawing I2 is a transparent casing or tubing made by extrusion or other well known process. These casings are usually made in long continuous lengths and flattened or rolled ll into rolls of any desired size. ,In order to provide means for indicating the source of manufacture of the goods contained in the casing the strip ll of any suitable material such as parchment paper, Cellophane or the like, in inserted therein and laminated or secured to the inner surface of the tubing as set forth in said prior application. 1 I

One of the particular features of the present invention is the provision of means for applying such marking strips to the casings, which machine is designated generally by the numeral It. In the particular form shown it comprises a frame or base I! which may be attached to a table I'I in any desired manner. The frame has two uprights It with slots l9 for'receiving the spindle 20 of a roll 2| upon which the strip or band It is rolled. The strip passes around a guide roller 22 and through any suitable device for apin order to apply the same.

The strip passes from the applying means through a guide 21 which also serves to support the casing I! which may be applied thereto in a substantially straight or flat condition or it may be shirred or ruflled as shown in Figure 4, so that the guide will hold a piece of casing considerably longer than the guide. This guide is preferably made in the form of a substantially flat or rectangular tube with a longitudinal slot 28 in the top thereof through which the operator may exteng. a finger for drawing the strip through the gui e.

Instead of an adhesive .as ordinarily termed, other liquid or agency may be applied to the strip which will cause it to adhere or be attached to the cellulosic material of the casing. For instance, ifv the strip is formed of Cellophane or the like itf'may be caused to adhereto a casing formed of similar material by the use of certain chemicals or other well known means.

When the strip is to be applied to a tube or casj ing it is drawn along underneath the adhesive applicator, which applies adhesive to the upper surface thereof, and the end is extended somewhat beyond the guide. The adhesive may be applied continuously or to cover the entire surface or and the applying means may be varied as desired may be applied in spotsor limited areas as desired. The casing I2 is then slipped over the guide as shown in Figure 4 and the operator pinches the end of the strip between the top and bottom layers of the casing and draws the casing OH or away from the guide, at the same time pulling the strip therewith so that when the casing passes from the guide the strip l3 will extend the entire length of the casing and its upper surface being coated maybe cemented or laminated to the inner'surface of the tube or casing. The parts may be pressed together in any convenient manner as by drawing the casing along the top of the table with one hand pressing down on the same so that the top portion of the casing will be pressed evenly along on the marking strip or the casing with the strip therein may be passed through wringer or pressure rolls 29 which may be driven or turned in any well known manner and which will serve to roll the parts together as indicated.

As the section of casing is withdrawn from the guide, the marking strip I3 is severed adjacent to the outer end of the guide preparatory for the next operation, and these operations may be quickly performed as will be apparent. After the strip has been applied to one side of the easing as shown in Figure 5, the operation may be repeated so as to apply a strip to the opposite side, and any desired number of strips may be inserted although two will ordinarily be sufficient.

From this description it will be 'seen that I provide an improved method and means for applying marking or identification strips to casings. While such casings are most commonly used for sausage, it will be noted that they may be used for other products such ascheese, meat for hamburgers, hot tamales, or the like.

While I have described a preferred machine or apparatus for carrying out my improved method of laminating or fastening strips in casings, it is apparent that changes may be made in the process or in the machine without departing from the scope thereof as set forth in the following claims, in which I claim:

1. An apparatus for applying identifying strips to tubular casings comprising means for supporting a roll of the strip, means for applying an adhesive to the strip, a guide through which the strip passes and over which the casing is drawn preparatory to drawing the casing and strip therefrom in coacting relation.

2. An apparatus for the purposes described comprising a frame, a rectangular tubular guide secured to the frame and adapted to support a casing. a reel mounted on the frame for supporting a roll of marking material, a fountain mounted on the frame, means for distributing liquid from the fountain onto the marking material as it passes through the same, the arrangement being such that the marking material will be drawn through the guide into the casing as the casing is withdrawn from the guide.

3. A device as per claim 2 in which the guide is provided with a longitudinal slot for convenience in passing the tape or strip therethrough.

4. An apparatus of the character set forth comprising a base, arms extending upwardly from the base, a reel rotatably mounted on the arms and adapted to support a roll of marking tape or the like, a fountain for an adhesive on said base, means for distributing the adhesive born the fountain to the tape as it passes the same, a guideway extending from the base through which the tape may be drawn with the adhesive applied to one side thereof, said guideway also. serving as a support for receiving the casing in which the tape is to be inserted and cemented.

5. Laminating apparatus of the character set forth, comprising a tubular support for supporting a casing by drawing the casing over the same and also providing a passageway for a strip of materialto be inserted and laminated in the'casing, means meeting with the support for applying adhesive to one side of the strip and pressure rollers between which the casing and strip are passed for pressing the strip into sealing engagemen't with the casing.

6. Laminating means of the character set forth, including a tubular support for supporting a casing by being inserted therein, said support also providing a passageway for a longitudinal strip to be fastened on the inside of the casing, and means for pressing the casing against the strip for causing the same to be secured toether.

7. The method of applying a longitudinal insert to a transparent casing formed of cellulosic material, which consists in projecting the insert through a tubular support, applying means to one of said members to cause the same to adhere to the other member, mounting the casing on the support and then drawing the casing with 30 the insert therein away from the support and applying means to the same to cause the insert to adhere to the casing.

8. The method of laminating a strip of paper or the like with a substantially transparent artiflcial casing, which consists in drawing the end of the strip into a tubular support, placing the casing over the support, then drawing the casing with the strip therein away from the support while simultaneously applying an adhesive to the strip and pressing the two together to cause the strip to adhere to the casing.

9. The method of marking a substantially transparent tubular casing which consists in projecting one end of a strip of identifying material through a stationary guideway and simultaneously applying adhesive thereto, then positioning the casing over the guideway, then drawing the casing with the strip therein away from the guideway, and finally drawing the same between rollers to cause the strip to be laminated to the inner wall of the casing with the indicat ing marks on the strip'against said wall.

10. The method of inserting a marking strip in a transparent casing which consists in drawing the casing on a rectangular tubular guide, applying an adhesive to the strip and inserting the end thereof in the guide, then drawing the casing with the strip therein away from the guide, and finally pressing the casing andstrip M together to cause the strip to adhere surface of the casing.

11. The process of applying a marking and reinforcing tape from a supply roll thereof to a tubular casing formed of cellulose or the like, and adapted to receive a food product, which consists in applying an adhesive to the free end of the tape and inserting the free end in a stationary tube, placing the casing over the tube, then to the inner drawing the casing with the tape therein away from the tube and simultaneously applying adhesive to the succeeding portions of the tape and pressing the two together to cause the tape to adhere to the casing.

12. The process of applying an insert to a collapsible transparent tubular member for holding food products, which consists in drawing the end of the insert from a roll thereof into a guideway, placing the tubular member over the guideway, applying an adhesive to the insert as it is drawn into and through the guldeway, then drawing the tubular member with the insert therein away from the guideway and pressing the two together to cause the insert to adhere 10 to the tubular member.

13. The method of applying a substantially continuous marking insert to a transparent flexible tubular casing member which consists in drawing the free end of the insert from a roll thereof into a guideway, then drawing the casing member over the guideway,'app1ying an adhesive to the insert as it passes from the roll to the guideway, then drawing the casing member with the insert therein away from the guideway and pressing the two together to cause the insert to adhere to the casing member.

.ALPHEUS J. FREEMAN. 

